New signs and bridge to bring together Chula Vista Greenbelt

Chula Vista  Even though there’s not a lot of money for luxuries these days, hikers around Chula Vista may soon notice new trail marker signs along the city’s greenbelt trail system and a new recreational bridge near the city’s municipal golf course in Bonita, thanks to grants from San Diego County’s Neighborhood Reinvestment Program.

The Chula Vista City Council on Tuesday ﻿accepted a $150,000 grant for the bridge and a $73,000 grant for trail markers along the existing 21 miles of Chula Vista Greenbelt trails.

The greenbelt is a comprehensive, integrated master plan of open spaces that, when finished, will include about 28 miles of multiuse and rural paths surrounding the city. The trail system includes the Sweetwater and Otay valleys and ideally will link existing trails in the central areas of the city with new ones, creating a widespread network for recreational travel throughout the area.

“You have a very unique opportunity to take advantage of the fact that you have a very natural greenbelt that completely surrounds the city of Chula Vista,” explained county Supervisor Greg Cox when he first presented the signage plan to the City Council in May.

“This could bring it all together with some consistent signage. It’s not always easy to do a project like this, because you’re dealing with four government entities. But time-wise, we may be able to get it completed by the end of the year.”

The larger grant will pay for a multiuse bridge that will help complete one of the trails by spanning a drainage channel north of the intersection of Bonita and Otay Lakes roads. The money will also cover the cost of installing a gravel path to connect that portion of the greenbelt system with an existing trail 600 feet west of the bridge.

The city applied for the bridge grant because many Chula Vista residents use that part of the greenbelt.

“That trail that goes around the Bonita golf course, you’re right when you say it’s one of the most dense places for people to walk and jog that I’ve ever seen,” Councilwoman Patricia Aguilar told Cox.

“This bridge will provide a critical link to the multiuse trail that encircles nearly all of the Chula Vista Municipal Golf Course and Rohr Park,” stated the resolution passed by City Council members Tuesday. The smaller grant will go to produce and install 75 specially designed signs to mark the trail, along with 3,000 matching pocket maps to help users clearly and safely navigate the system of paths.

The Neighborhood Reinvestment Program provides grant funds to county departments, public agencies and nonprofit community organizations to enhance community quality of life by helping to meet their social, educational, cultural and recreational needs.